A resident left counting the cost of clearing an alleyway overrun with rubbish and rats is calling on those responsible for its upkeep to keep their promises.

Sue Abnett fought for 14 years to get the eyesore passage, which backs onto her home and is regularly overgrown with brambles, cleared by housing association mhs homes.

It took a week in October to clear the site in Oliver Close, Luton, near Chatham, revealing a large amount of rubbish that included beer cans, whiskey bottles, and toys.

Afterwards, Sue says a verbal promise the clear-up would happen twice yearly was made and last month, after noticing an increase in rubbish again, she emailed mhs homes to remind them of its commitment.

But since then, the 66-year-old says she’s been told she and residents of Victoria Road, who are also affected by the alley, will now have to wait until winter.

The housing provider insists plans are in place to clear the overgrown passage but “grounds maintenance has been taking longer than usual”.

Sue, who has lived at her property for 40 years, said: “It’s not good enough.

“I was really pleased with what mhs homes did in October to get the alleyway back to a state I hadn’t seen it in for at least 24 years.

“I had rats in my garden last year and I am sure that’s because they were attracted by the amount of rubbish that was there.

“It’s not pleasant to find a dead rat in your garden and a young rat that my dog was barking at.

“I can understand they are short on resources but if they can’t maintain it, where do we go from here?”

Sue now worries if the alleyway is not cleared soon the brambles will overgrow into her garden, as it did before.

To combat this recurring issue, she had suggested to mhs homes that if it did not have the resources to maintain the alleyway, residents could extend their gardens but says this has never resulted in a conclusion.

Furthermore, the alleyway is not in use and does not have public access to allow the neighbours to get inside and clear it up.

When asked why it is so important the site is kept clean, Sue said: “For me, it’s about having a nice place for our community to live in.

“I would like mhs homes to stick to their promise of cleaning it twice a year and the Japanese knotweed to be removed when it’s appropriate.

“It’s not my responsibility to clean the alleyway - it’s their land.”

Despite this, in the past Sue and a neighbour paid £600 to clear up the alleyway and 12 sacks of rubbish including beer cans, whiskey bottles, and toys were removed.

However, Sue isn’t prepared to pay for it again and wants mhs homes to keep its promise.

Since contacting KentOnline Sue was told an estate manager would be coming to pay a site visit in the next few weeks.

Sue added: “My message is to keep the places that you live in a good and clean environment for people to live in for the community.”

A spokesperson for mhs homes said: “We take pride in providing a safe and well maintained environment for residents and local communities.

“Unfortunately, some of our grounds maintenance has been taking longer than usual, but we want to reassure residents that plans to clear the alleyway are in place.”